The Om Yoga Center in Ashburn views yoga as a means for healing both physically and mentally. The studio offers a variety of yoga traditions, and has a very successful Pre-Teen/Teen Yoga class on Wednesday nights. We dropped in on the Saturday morning “hot yoga” class and experienced a Bikram-inspired practice in a very warm (about 105 degrees) room. The classes are small and personal: the instructor, director Julianne Misra, knew each student by name and checked in with each person about any injuries or conditions that they had. The studio has a definite family feel to it as students come in and enjoy massage chairs, a lending library, and hot herbal tea.

21785 Filigree Court, Suite 200

The Sterling Yoga Center offers Kundalini yoga, also called “White Tantric” yoga. Kundalini is a more spiritual type of yoga that goes beyond the physical aspects and emphasizes meditation, chanting, and breathing. Kundalini yoga helps you to break through subconscious blocks that are preventing you from enjoying life. The class we took began with some chanting and a warm up, and then progressed to series of exercises called “kriyas” that included many seated postures where you moved your arms and / or torso while engaged in the “breath of fire” (rapid, forceful exhalations through the nose). We were instructed to fix our gaze and internally chant a mantra while engaged in the exercise. Throughout the class, the instructor explained what the postures were for – sending love into the world, helping us know our true selves, tuning in to the inner divine. We ended with several moving meditations that included a lot of arm movements that were quite challenging! There was beautiful music played throughout the class. At the end of the class, the instructor, who had a stunning voice, lead us in a beautiful song: May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you guide your way on.”

I was eager to try this full service salon and day spa that has been a fixture in Loudon County since 1977. My appointment was with Charlene March- Hair Port’s resident Master Makeup Artist; this excites me a great deal- rarely do I find a spa that has a specialized expert makeup artist on staff.

As I arrived for my appointment, one of Charlene’s client went out of her way to tell me, the first-timer, how special Charlene is and how extraordinary my experience will be. It is at this point I understand this is about so much more than make-up.

I had heard some very favorable reviews from friends who go to this salon, so I was ready to meet the staff and for a new updated summer look.

My nerves were slightly on edge since I got a little lost, but a warm greeting and a delicious mimosa handed to me when I walked through the door, relaxed me considerably.